Method and system for providing a program guide and multiple video streams using slice-based encoding

Abstract

Methods for slice-based encoding of program guides and user interfaces are disclosed. The program guides include multiple video streams for picture-in-picture and other applications. A method for encoding the program guide includes encoding a first set of slices for each of a plurality of graphics pages; and encoding a second set of slices for each of a plurality of video streams. The user interfaces are multi-functional and may be used for electronic commerce and other applications. A method of generating the user interface includes encoding a set of slices for each of a plurality of objects, each object being characterized by an identity, at least one attribute, and at least one operation. In one embodiment of this method, the plurality of objects include an electronic commerce object, where the electronic commerce object is attributed with a first hyper text markup language (HTML) page.

1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a demultiplexer configured to extract from a transport stream a first elementary stream including a first set of encoded guide slices representing a guide region of a first program guide page of a plurality of program guide pages, a second elementary stream including a second set of encoded guide slices representing a guide region of a second program guide page of the plurality of program guide pages, and a third elementary stream including a first set of encoded video slices representing a first video region common to each of the plurality of program guide pages; 
 a decoder configured, in response to a selection of the first program guide page, to combine the first set of encoded guide slices and the first set of encoded video slices into a single encoded video stream, and decode the single encoded video stream to produce image representative data of said first program guide page; and 
 a processor configured to generate a presentation signal including said image representative data of said first program guide page. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first elementary stream includes a first packet identifier, the second elementary stream includes a second packet identifier, and the third elementary stream includes a third packet identifier. 
     
     
       3. A method comprising:
 dividing a program guide that lists available content arranged as a grid into a plurality of grid regions, the available content arranged according to time and channel parameters; 
 encoding a first grid region of said plurality of grid regions into a first set of guide slices; 
 encoding a second grid region of said plurality of grid regions into a second set of guide slices; 
 encoding a first video into a first set of video slices; and 
 transmitting said first and second sets of guide slices and said first set of video slices to a terminal, wherein said first and second sets of guide slices and said first set of video slices are encoded such that said first set of guide slices and said first set of video slices are configured to be combined into a single encoded video stream , which is configured to be decoded into a first program guide page, and said second set of guide slices and said first set of video slices are configured to be combined into a different single encoded video stream, which is configured to be decoded into a second program guide page. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 each of said first and second sets of guide slices and said first set of video slices are transmitted as separate elementary streams each having a unique packet identifier. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 selecting the unique packet identifiers for each of said elementary streams in a manner enabling navigation of said program guide pages using packet identifier indexing. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein said elementary streams are transported to the terminal via a common transport stream. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving a program guide selection signal from the terminal; 
 identifying a portion of the available content associated with the selection signal; and 
 providing control information to said terminal, which enables the selection by said terminal of a bitstream including the portion of available content. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 opening a session with said terminal; 
 establishing a content communications channel; and 
 transmitting said portion of the available content via said content communications channel. 
 
     
     
       9. A method, comprising:
 receiving a first set of encoded guide slices representing a first portion of a program guide that lists available content arranged as a grid according to time and channel parameters, the first set of encoded guide slices formatted for a first program guide page of a plurality of program guide pages; 
 receiving a second set of encoded guide slices representing a second portion of the program guide, the second set of encoded guide slices formatted for a second program guide page of the plurality of program guide pages; 
 receiving a first set of encoded video slices representing a first video; 
 receiving a selection of the first program guide page; 
 in response to the selection, combining the first set of encoded guide slices and the first set of encoded video slices into a single encoded video stream, and decoding the single encoded video stream to produce image representative data of said first program guide page; and 
 generating a presentation signal including said image representative data of said first program guide page. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 extracting, from a first bitstream, the first set of encoded guide slices; 
 extracting, from a second bitstream, the first set of encoded video slices, wherein each of the bitstreams is assigned a different packet identifier. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said bitstreams are selected for extracting according to packet identifiers associated with the first program guide page. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 extracting, from a first bitstream, the first set of encoded guide slices and the first set of encoded video slices. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 in response to a selection of the second program guide page:
 combining said second set of encoded guide slices and said first set of encoded video slices into a different single encoded video stream, and decoding the different single encoded video stream to produce image representative data of said second program guide page; and 
 generating a presentation signal including said image representative data of said second program guide page. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving an audio signal associated with said first video; and 
 outputting said audio signal contemporaneously with said presentation signal. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of the first and second sets of encoded guide slices and the first set of video slices is included within a different respective elementary stream; and 
 the different respective elementary streams are included within a common transport stream. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of the first and second sets of encoded guide slices and the first set of encoded video slices is included within a different respective elementary stream; and 
 each of a plurality of transport streams includes at least one of the different respective elementary streams. 
 
     
     
       17. An apparatus comprising:
 a graphics processor configured to:
 divide a program guide that lists available content arranged as a grid into a plurality of grid regions, the available content arranged according to time and channel parameters, 
 encode a first grid region of said plurality of grid regions into a first set of guide slices, and 
 encode a second grid region of said plurality of grid regions into a second set of guide slices; 
 
 a video processor configured to encode a first video into a first set of video slices; and 
 a modem configured to transmit said first and second sets of guide slices and said first set of video slices to a terminal, wherein said first and second sets of guide slices and said first set of video slices are encoded such that said first set of guide slices and said first set of video slices are configured to be combined into a single encoded video stream, which is configured to be decoded into a first program guide page, and said second set of guide slices and said first set of video slices are configured to be combined into a different single encoded video stream, which is configured to be decoded into a second program guide page. 
 
     
     
       18. A system comprising the apparatus of  claim 17  and a terminal, the terminal comprising:
 a demultiplexer configured to receive the first and second sets of guide slices and said first set of video slices; 
 a decoder configured, in response to a selection of the first program guide page, to combine the first set of encoded guide slices and the first set of encoded video slices into the single encoded video stream, and decode the single encoded video stream to produce image representative data of said first program guide page; and 
 a processor configured to generate a presentation signal including said image representative data of said first program guide page.